Oxidative Stress Markers and Antioxidant Status in Human Hypertension

Abstract

Background: There is growing evidence that oxidative stress contributes to hypertension justified by observations, predominantly in animal models. Objective: The aim of the present study was to observe the relationship, if any, between systemic arterial hypertension and biochemical markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and aging. Materials & Methods: 50 subjects with hypertension and 50 age and sex-matched controls were included in the study. The nitrate-nitrite ratio, malondialdehyde (measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, superoxide dismutase activity, and high sensitive C-Reactive Protein were assayed on samples from these subjects by standardized methodology. The data obtained was statistically analyzed. Results: Statistically significant mean values of serum nitrate-nitrite ratio and plasma superoxide dismutase activity were lower and that of serum malondialdehyde was higher in hypertensive subjects when compared to the controls. Serum nitrate-nitrite ratio, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase activity exhibited statistically significant multivariate correlation with each other while High Sensitive C-Reactive Protein was not significantly correlated. Nitrate-nitrite ratio was significantly lower with aging both in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. Conclusion: The present study confirmed the role of oxidation mediated tissue damage in generation of hypertension and suggested the usefulness of examining nitrate:nitrite ratio as a surrogate marker of the pathophysiologic process leading to generation of human hypertension. The study also confirmed an exacerbation of oxidative stress with advancement of age in both study groups

Keywords

• Hypertension
• Aging
• Nitric oxide
• Antioxidants
• Inflammation